James
Patterson’s
new book, I Funny: A Middle School Story, is just as entertaining as the
title implies. As an average middle school boy new to the New York City
suburbs, Jamie Grimm is obsessed with making people laugh. But don’t be fooled
by his last name or his wheelchair status, because he is one determined
stand-up comedian!

At
school and in his neighborhood, Jamie can make absolutely anyone laugh, but in
front of a live audience, he seems to get pretty nervous. Jamie practices his
jokes so that one day he can be on stage and “on a roll,” telling his family
crazy adventure stories where he rolls past zombies in his wheelchair on the
way to school.

Jamie
even conquers bullying at his school, standing up to the mean kids with a
simple joke or funny tale. He works up the courage to secretly enter kids’
comedy competitions and even take home a first place prize! But when he pursues
comedy even further, he comes across some performance challenges.

Jamie
has to find a balance between joking and mocking as he gets ready for his final
comedy competition. Will the audience laugh? Or will he risk embarrassing his
friends, family, and even the cool girl from school, on stage?

Check
out this illustrated read (available now) as a fun break from homework over
your winter vacation, and find out if Jamie has what it takes to make it in
show business!